Vegetarian Recipes

So it was Saturday lunchtime, some drinks had been drunk the night before and we were in need of food. There were eggs, there were fishfingers both of which have been known to feature in the weekend repertoire, but there were also potatoes and cheeses, and it so happened that the latter were to be winners on that day. Though let’s face it, cheese usually has the edge over most of the other foods.

So ingredients in hand I set about it.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Skill level: Easy
Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 100g self-raising flour – sifted
• 2 eggs
• 20g butter – melted
• 75ml milk
• salt and black pepper
• 200g (starchy) potatoes – coarsely grated
• 50g parmesan – finely grated
• 50g chives – chopped
• vegetable oil
• 60g rocket
• 16 yellow cherry tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic – finely sliced
• olive oil

Take a large bowl and add the flour, eggs, butter, milk, salt and pepper. Give it a good whisk. Fold in the potatoes, parmesan and half the chives. Heat a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in a frying pan on medium. Put the mixture in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes each side until bubbles appear on the surface.

While the main event is getting itself cooked, heat some olive oil in a small frying pan, add the sliced garlic, making sure it is immersed in the oil and doesn’t burn. Then add the cherry toms. Cook over a medium to low heat until the tomatoes can be squashed down a little bit to release a few juices whilst still retaining their wholeness.

When it’s done cut the Big Crumpet into four and place one quarter each on two plates, layer rocket, chives and some shaved parmesan on top of each. Serve with the tomatoes.

Then go back for seconds.

Serves 2.

Verdict: Rather good. Especially spread over two helpings. Quite soft and spongey like a crumpet with a nice bit of aeration going on. And the tomatoes add a good bit of juice without the need for anything as rash as a full-blown sauce. Just the thing for a weekend lunch (brunch?)

Drink: Fresh coffee with cream (left over from a previous meal, not a regular habit so quite treaty).

Entertainment: Listening to Zerox by Adam and the Ants on 6Music, what could be better than 3 minutes 19 seconds of sexy Mr Ant? And the knife and fork come in very handy for a spot of air drumming, just be sure to lick them clean first.